Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16


I'm his customer; such horse worth
$500 and purchased for less than half the
money, would along with my Kanucks.
Sherbroolle, my location, is centrally
situated in fertile grazing district less
than 100 miles square, called the Eastern
Township. This region abuts on YER
mont, and the chief and best part of the
population are of New England origin.
Latterly immigration has introduced
many settlers of various grades from the
British islands. A few French Canadi-
ans in this section are for the most part
mere laborers from Sherbooke, which is
town of some prospective Importance,
owing to an immense water power and
the establishment of courts and else; the
French Canadian settlements lie distant,
by various routes, fifty miles and up
wards. Generally speaking, the French
settlements in Canada occupy the i'm
mense flats, in many parts ten leagues in
breadth, which border the mighty st. Law
renee and its tributary rivers. Here, in
a champaign country, fertile in summer,
but in winter cold and bleak, and lying
under three or four feet of snow, the
smart Canadian has lived in q house of
squared logs or sawed planks, white
washed with lime; and has trod in the
footsteps of his father from the first set
Element of the country to the present
hour. His farm is mere slip of a few
rods breath, stretching back from the
road for perhaps mile. Owing to the
narrowness of the lots the houses, placed
by the roadside. present the appearance,
wherever one travels, of continuous
village. Occasionally mansion of stone
and mortar, thick walled, the roof cover
ed with thick tin plate; or a clapboarded
wooden house with the luxurious substi-
tute of paint for whtewash, diversifies
| the scene and indicates the residence of Il
Weather or more tasteful person. The
country is divided into parishes, and each
parish has stone church, whose bright
timed steeple and roof CLEAN from atar
with dazzling brilliancy. Close by this
tavern or two, as many shops or stores, a
smithy, some few good dwellings. and a
host of small and poor ones, inhabited
chiefly by superannuated persons who
have given up their farms and all the
cares of life to their sons, for a yearly
allowance of so much wheat, pork.
onions, coarse cloth etc., as they shall
need while they remain upon the earth
and have come to spend the remainder OF
their days where they can frequently en-.
ter the hallowed building, and knee
down and humble prayers to the blessed
Virgin and their guardian angels, anG
thus prepare for the important duties OF
a superior state of existence hereafter.
With Roman Catholics, many innocent
yet enlivening diversions are literally
permitted after mass on Sunday which
some of our Protestant brethren would
think it perilled their eternal welfare tC
indulge in. Such are visiting. counting
and innocent or sober exercises anC
amusements generally. With this lati
tide to his conscience and glorious lit
tie nag to convey him from the churcl
door on cold winters day, when speed
is gain, the Canadian INDUCES in racing
even at the close of divine service
The practice has gone to such ex
tent as to endanger the safety of per
! sons on foot, and the law now or
dams that no fast driving shall be per
, mtted within certain short distanc
of the sacred edifice. As many of tn
churches stand near the rivers, and tn
: worshippers pass upon the ice-whel
this is smooth and glare, the trials tina
, take place in returning from service ar
sometimes interesting TO witness, and tn
move of handicapping, when one horse i
allowed to be more powerful or fleete
: than another, by transfer of passenger
perhaps woman or child from the weak
. er to the stronger team is really comca
in high degree.
, The Canadians drive single, that is, onl
: one horse to sleigh. mode which give
: at once the most perfect control of tn
l animal, and taxes his power to the vi
I most. Their breed is the Norman French
1 Normandy being that part of France ly
ing most convenient for shipping to tina
D part of North America. For the best de
l scription of the Norman breed see tn
e Spirit of Nov. 9Th, ISL. The social di:
position and simple mode of life of tn
: Canadian peasant make him dote on hi
l horse almost like an Arab, and he ha
little less cause in the excellency of tn
5 animal. Prone to indulge in contests c
e speed on Sunday and festivals, of whic
: his calendar affords a goodly number
}, Jean Baptiste is not less inclined to II
r ioice in swift riding on convenient occi
; sions at other times.
: The characteristic physical excellenc
of the Canadian horse is muscle; tn
e | oivac him, -trannth FOR ,yo,l- aud ,,,bo